A diplomatic visit turned into a nightmare in the flooded plains of southern Mozambique. A desperate multi-national search is now underway for Andile Mngwevu, the City of Ekurhuleni’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Roads and Transport, after the vehicle he was travelling in was engulfed and swept away by raging floodwaters.
The incident occurred in Chokwé, a town ravaged by weeks of relentless seasonal rains that have transformed rivers into torrents, claiming dozens of lives and displacing tens of thousands. Mngwevu was part of an official South African delegation visiting the region when the catastrophe struck.
A Vehicle Submerged, A Fate Unknown
According to municipal and national authorities, the vehicle carrying the MMC was caught in fast-moving water and washed away. The City of Ekurhuleni expressed deep concern, stating it is maintaining constant communication with authorities on the ground.
A glimmer of information emerged as South African rescue teams joined the effort. Clayson Monyela, Head of Public Diplomacy for the Department of International Relations, confirmed that contact had been established with one person who managed to escape the vehicle as it was overcome. This survivor revealed a critical and harrowing detail: there were five people in the vehicle.
“The status of the other four, and this includes the MMC, is yet to be confirmed,” Monyela told Newzroom Afrika. The search for Mngwevu and the three other missing occupants continues with urgent intensity.
A Family’s Vigil and a Region’s Calamity
The human toll of the wait is profound. Mngwevu’s wife and family have travelled to Mozambique and are being supported by consular officials from the South African High Commission. Their vigil underscores the personal tragedy within a larger-scale disaster.
Mozambique has been grappling with a severe flooding crisis for weeks, with officials warning that saturated ground and damaged infrastructure have created exceptionally dangerous conditions, particularly near swollen rivers. The death toll from the ongoing rains is feared to have surpassed 100, with widespread destruction of homes, roads, and bridges.
A Race Against Time and Water
As rescue teams navigate treacherous, water-logged terrain, the mission remains a grim race against time and the elements. Each hour deepens the anxiety for Mngwevu’s family, colleagues, and the nation watching.
The disappearance of a senior South African official on a diplomatic mission has cast a stark light on the ferocity of the regional floods, merging a personal crisis with a natural disaster of devastating proportions. For now, all efforts are focused on one hope: finding Andile Mngwevu and bringing him home.
